How does a ceramic coating protect your rims?

The appearance of the rims and their durability largely depends on how you take care of them. Learn how to do it properly.

Find out about the advantages of the ceramic coating of the rim and how much longer you will be able to enjoy the beautiful appearance of the wheels in your car after its application. Less frequency of washing rims is also worth ordering a ceramic preparation.

Ceramic coating for rims - what is it and how does it work?

Theoretically, rim protection is not necessary at all, but everyone who cares about the appearance and durability of their vehicle should use it, because it brings very positive effects. Rims are one of the elements that get very dirty, due to substances that are difficult to remove, such as:

• brake fluid;
• dust and rust from worn brake discs;
• engine oils;
• dirt from the street.

Quite a characteristic sight are much more heavily soiled rims at the front of the car. It is there that the disc brakes work much stronger and it is the rusty coating from the discs and pads (if they have metallic additives) that causes the front wheels of the vehicle to be so heavily soiled. This look of the rims is repulsive and gives the impression that someone does not care about their car at all.

Of course, you can regularly clean the rims, but it takes a lot of time and requires going to a specialist car wash or having your own space and equipment. In order to be able to significantly reduce the frequency of cleaning, many different types of preparations for coating rims are used. Waxes or ceramic preparations are most commonly used. And it is the ceramic coating of the rim that provides the greatest resistance to dirt adhesion and the longest time to stay on the rim. Wax gives similar effects, but it lasts much shorter after application on the rim.

Advantages of ceramic coating for rims - why is it worth using?

The properties of the ceramic coating mean that its use has practically only significant advantages that will help you keep the rim clean and in good condition. The most important are:

Protection against contamination

The first important feature of the ceramic coating is protection against contamination. The coating is extremely smooth and it is very difficult for dirt to stick to such a surface. Most dirt simply won't stick or will run off with rain water, allowing you to clean your car's rims much less frequently.

Corrosion resistance

The ceramic coating of the car and rims protects the elements from rust. By blocking the penetration of moisture and allowing water to drain faster, and with no contaminants to stop it, the ceramic coating means significantly greater resistance to corrosion and automatically longer durability of both steel, aluminum and even magnesium wheels.

Easy to clean

Much greater ease of cleaning is another of the advantages of the ceramic coating of the rim. In most cases, a light rinsing with water is enough for the rim to regain its perfect appearance. This means that you will be able to carry out washing without having a special washer or going to a specialist car wash or even an auto detailing plant.

Long-lasting effect

If you apply a ceramic coating to the rim, you will achieve a very long-lasting effect. Most manufacturers claim 12 to 24 months for their coating, but often it lasts as long as 3 years. Rim wax doesn't last that long. The exact data can be found in the instructions of each preparation, it is also worth checking what they write about it on internet forums, those who have already used it.

The appearance of the rims - how does the ceramic coating affect the aesthetics of the rims?

All metal surfaces protected with a ceramic preparation significantly gain and the same appearance of the rims will be much more attractive. After applying a ceramic layer, they will shine as if they were brand new. Each clean and shiny car looks much better, which also affects the perception of the person driving it.

Protecting the rims with a ceramic preparation is highly recommended and it is worth spending time once a year or even every two years to keep your aluminum or steel rims looking like new and in excellent condition for many years of use.

How to properly clean rims?

A very important aspect is to take care of the quality of the rims and extend the life of the ceramic coating. This can be done by using an impregnation for car alloy wheels at least every other wash to strengthen the coating, it is also not worth choosing harsh agents, unless necessary - soap with a neutral ph usually works. It is also not profitable to allow too intensive baking of brake dust on the surface, if there is dirt, it should be cleaned.

The process of applying a ceramic coating to the rims - can it be done by yourself?

If you are convinced by the properties of the ceramic coating and you intend to use it, find out how to do it correctly. Even the best coating applied incorrectly or in poor conditions will not live up to expectations. Fortunately, applying ceramic preparations is not difficult - you just have to follow the points given below:

• remove the wheels from the vehicle - it is definitely necessary, although some people give it up;
• wash the rims and tires thoroughly at the same time - thoroughly clean the rims with special preparations intended for a given type of material - steel or aluminum;
• dry the wheels - wait the right time or use a microfiber cloth or use compressed air;
• apply the preparation, spreading it carefully - how much should be used for one rim, you will find in the manual of a given type of preparation (usually a few drops) - it is most often recommended to spread it with a cotton pad - sometimes a suitable tissue is part of the set, you can also come across preparations sprayed;
• wait as long as required by the instructions - this is an important point that is most often overlooked, or at least shortened (exemplary preparations may have recommendations saying that the surface should not be exposed to water or moisture for 3 hours, and full hardness will be obtained after 12 hours );
• put the wheels back on the car.

In the manual you can find additional information, such as the minimum temperature at which the preparation can be applied (for example +10 degrees Celsius, sometimes even 20 degrees), the range of acceptable humidity in the room and similar notes that you should follow to get a good and long-lasting effect in accordance with the manufacturer's declarations.

Is the ceramic coating suitable for all types of rims?

Ceramic rim coating in the case of most preparations can be used when you have aluminum rims, steel rims or even magnesium rims. Detailed information on this subject can be found in the description of each preparation, as there may also be very specialized solutions available - for example, quartz preparations intended only for rims. There are also preparations that can be used properly on the entire vehicle - both on the body paint, as well as on the rims and windows. Such protection against pollution is a great solution that allows you to wash and clean your car much less often.

If you do not feel up to it or simply do not have time to perform such procedures, you will certainly find an auto detailing plant in the vicinity that offers such a service for both rims and other car elements. A car ceramic coating applied to paint works the same way as on rims and it is worth using it. If you are going to order new Volkswagen or FORD rims, it is best to immediately order a ceramic preparation for them. In this way, you will extend their life and provide them with a perfect look with minimal effort on your part. All protective measures are best applied from the beginning, because it is easier to prevent damage than to repair or mask it later.